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We estimated the weighted mean basic reproduction number (R ) of chikungunya virus based on outbreak size. R was 3.4 (95% CI 2.4-4.2) and varied for 2 primary chikungunya mosquito vectors: 4.1 (95% CI 1.5-6.6) for Aedes aegypti and 2.8 (95% CI 1.8-3.8) for Ae. albopictus.

Lassa fever (LF), a zoonotic illness, represents a public health burden in West African countries where the Lassa virus (LASV) circulates among rodents. Human exposure hinges significantly on LASV ecology, which is in turn shaped by various parameters such as weather seasonality and even virus and rodent-host genetics. Furthermore, human behaviour, despite playing a key role in the zoonotic nature of the disease, critically affects either the spread or control of human-to-human transmission. Previous estimations on LF burden date from the 80s and it is unclear how the population expansion and the improvement on diagnostics and surveillance methods have affected such predictions. Although recent data have contributed to the awareness of epidemics, the real impact of LF in West African communities will only be possible with the intensification of interdisciplinary efforts in research and public health approaches. This review discusses the causes and consequences of LF from a One Health perspective, and how the application of this concept can improve the surveillance and control of this disease in West Africa.

It is intuitive that the health status of wildlife might influence conservation translocation outcomes, however, health as a topic has received limited attention in the conservation translocation literature. We determined the forms and frequency of disease and other biological problems reported in translocated animals and plants, and in populations linked to translocation, and associations between their mention and translocation ‘success’. From these problems we deduced the forms of ill‐health potentially associated with conservation translocation and developed contextual frameworks to inform health management. Using described selection criteria, a subset of case studies of animal and plant conservation translocation from the IUCN's ‘Global Reintroduction Perspectives’ series (2008–2018) was reviewed. Self‐reported information describing or implying mortality, ill‐health or reproductive compromise was extracted and categorized as a ‘disease’ or other biological problem. Problems explicitly described as a ‘major difficulty’, ‘major lesson’ or ‘reason for failure’ were termed ‘notable’. We specified the conditions representing ill‐health and created diagrams illustrating their relationships to other biological problems and processes, and management measures. Notable ‘disease’ problems such as infection, (as in stress‐related) and husbandry‐related disorders were reported in 30% of 295 reviewed case studies and were more likely to be mentioned in less ‘successful’ projects (P < 0.05, χ2 test). Other biological problems, in particular predation, adverse climate or weather, and anthropogenic trauma, were commonly reported (66% of 295 studies), especially post‐release. When present, disease may be an important obstacle to translocation success. The negative health impacts of other, apparently common post‐release problems also merit acknowledgement. A broad spectrum of disease and other health‐related problems can potentially occur in conservation translocations and impact conservation and animal welfare outcomes. We suggest health management of translocation has three broad roles: to mitigate disease risks posed to other animals, plants and humans; to mitigate threats to the health of translocated individuals themselves; and to preserve and build their resilience and adaptive capacity, given the apparent high frequency of post‐release problems. We advocate a stronger emphasis on fostering health as opposed to solely preventing disease. This is directly and indirectly dependent on a range of related project management actions and on multi‐disciplinary expertise. We explored the forms and frequency of disease and other biological problems self‐reported in animal and plant conservation translocation case‐studies, and associations between their mention and translocation ‘success’. From these problems we deduced the forms of ill‐health that can be associated with conservation translocation and developed contextual frameworks to inform health management. Notable ‘disease’ problems such as infection, stress‐ and husbandry‐related disorders were reported in 30% (n = 89) of 295 reviewed case studies and were more likely to be mentioned in less ‘successful’ projects. Other biological problems, in particular predation, adverse climate or weather, and anthropogenic trauma, were commonly reported (in 66% of 295 studies), especially post‐release. When present, disease may be an important obstacle to translocation success; the negative impacts of other, apparently common post‐release problems on health also merit acknowledgement. We should aim to foster wildlife health throughout the translocation process.

Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is a highly contagious viral disease of small ruminants that threatens livelihoods and food security in developing countries and, in some cases, wild ungulate species conservation. The Greater Serengeti-Mara Ecosystem (GSME) encompasses one of the major wildlife populations of PPR virus (PPRV)-susceptible species left on earth, although no clinical disease has been reported so far. This study aimed to gain further knowledge about PPRV circulation in the GSME by identifying which factors predict PPRV seropositivity in African buffalo (Syncerus caffer). Following an ecological niche modeling framework to map host-pathogen distribution, two models of PPRV exposure and buffalo habitat suitability were performed using serological data and buffalo censuses. Western Maasai Mara National Reserve and Western Serengeti National Park were identified as high-risk areas for PPRV exposure in buffalo. Variables related to wildlife-livestock interaction contributed to the higher risk of PPRV seropositivity in buffalo, providing supportive evidence that buffalo acquire the virus through contact with infected livestock. These findings can guide the design of cost-effective PPRV surveillance using buffalo as a sentinel species at the identified high-risk locations. As more intensive studies have been carried out in Eastern GSME, this study highlights the need for investigating PPRV dynamics in Western GSME.

Conservation translocations are human‐mediated movements of wildlife for conservation purposes. They risk compromising the health of wildlife, and potentially domestic animals and humans, in the short and long term, but these risks vary with project context. Wildlife health risk analysis (disease risk analysis) is a process enabling these risks to be characterized and managed; multiple methods have been developed for conservation translocation. It would be beneficial for the depth of health risk analysis to be proportionate to context; however, few methods currently facilitate this flexibility. We aimed to produce a refined methodological framework for health risk analysis that enabled it to be scalable and adaptable to different translocation scenarios. We developed such a framework by adapting and assimilating elements of existing methods. We describe its key features and application to two wader (shorebird) conservation translocations with differing translocation plans and epidemiological circumstances. We then reflect on the framework's utility in light of the observed project outcomes, which exemplified the uncertain and changeable nature of disease risks over time. Our framework has the potential to expedite health risk analysis for repeat translocations of a particular taxon in a region and has application to other taxa and potentially other forms of wildlife translocation. We present a methodological framework for health risk analysis (disease risk analysis) for conservation translocation that enables the process to be scaled and adapted to the project context. We illustrate its application to two wader (shorebird) population restoration projects with differing translocation plans. The framework can be applied to conservation translocations of other taxa and potentially to other forms of wildlife translocation.

Remnant red squirrel populations in the UK mainland are threatened by squirrelpox viral disease and the reservoir of the squirrelpox virus, the invasive grey squirrel, is expanding its range. Until this threat can be effectively mitigated, there is a high risk from disease outbreaks, following proposed conservation translocation of red squirrels.

This study describes the registration of the first cases of lumpy skin disease in July 2016 in the Republic of Kazakhstan. In the rural district of Makash, Kurmangazinsky district of Atyrau region, 459 cattle fell ill and 34 died (morbidity 12.9% and mortality 0.96%). To determine the cause of the disease, samples were taken from sick and dead animals, as well as from insects and ticks. LSDV DNA was detected by PCR in all samples from dead animals and ticks (Dermacentor marginatus and Hyalomma asiaticum), in 14.29% of samples from horseflies (Tabanus bromius), and in one of the samples from two Stomoxys calcitrans flies. The reproductive LSD virus was isolated from organs of dead cattle and insects in the culture of LT and MDBK cells. The virus accumulated in cell cultures of LT and MDBK at the level of the third passage with titers in the range of 5.5–5.75 log 10 TCID50/cm3. Sequencing of the GPCR gene allowed us to identify this virus as a lumpy skin disease virus.

The role which West and Central African wildlife populations might play in the transmission dynamics of FMD is not known nor have studies been performed in order to assess the distribution and prevalence of FMD in wild animal species inhabiting those specific regions of Africa. This study reports the FMD serological profile extracted from samples ( n  = 696) collected from wildlife of West and Central Africa between 1999 and 2003. An overall prevalence of FMDV NSP reactive sera of 31.0% (216/696) was estimated, where a significant difference in seropositivity ( p  = 0.000) was reported for buffalo (64.8%) as opposed to other wild animal species tested (17.8%). Different levels of exposure to the FMDV resulted for each of the buffalo subspecies sampled ( p = 0.031): 68.4%, 50.0% and 0% for Nile Buffalo, West African Buffalo and African Forest Buffalo, respectively. The characterisation of the FMDV serotypes tested for buffalo found presence of antibodies against all the six FMDV serotypes tested, although high estimates for type O and SAT 3 were reported for Central Africa. Different patterns of reaction to the six FMDV serotypes tested were recorded, from sera only positive for a single serotype to multiple reactivities. The results confirmed that FMDV circulates in wild ruminants populating both West and Central Africa rangelands and in particular in buffalo, also suggesting that multiple FMDV serotypes might be involved with type O, SAT 2 and SAT 1 being dominant. Differences in serotype and spill-over risk between wildlife and livestock likely reflect regional geography, historical circulation and differing trade and livestock systems.

Provides wildlife professionals with cutting-edge scientific information on the most damaging and newly emerging wildlife diseases.Wildlife diseases and their implications are at the forefront of many sectors of scientific endeavor, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Nearly 60 percent of all human diseases and 75 percent of all emerging infectious diseases are zoonotic. Edited by pioneering wildlife veterinarians David A. Jessup and Robin W. Radcliffe, Wildlife Disease and Health in Conservation explores the origins and impacts of as well as the responses to the most damaging and persistent diseases currently threatening wildlife conservation.Focusing mainly on newer, invasive, and controversial wildlife health challenges, this book also reexamines classic diseases that provide warnings and important lessons for wildlife professionals and policy makers. Each chapter offers cutting-edge scientific information and extensive references to help readers plan for, respond to, and conduct research on these serious health challenges. This book:• Reports crucial findings on newly emerging diseases and how to recognize and manage them• Explores the health of critical but often neglected aquatic ecosystems, including both vertebrate and invertebrate examples• Covers a vast diversity of wildlife health threats, from epizootic bighorn sheep pneumonia and African swine fever to sea star wasting disease, avian influenza, and rabbit hemorrhagic disease• Explains zoonotic dangers to humans, including coronaviruses • Includes information on marine and aquatic species, wild ungulate species, carnivores and omnivores, birds, and more• Provides insight into the social, legal, financial, and political factors that may override or influence conservation priorities in response to biomedical challengesFeaturing detailed and attractive field notes–style illustrations by Laura Donohue and essential essays from experts in the field, Wildlife Disease and Health in Conservation combines theory and practice to inform and inspire wildlife health and conservation.